View all text of Part P [§ 280g - § 280g-18]
§ 280g–12. Primary Care Extension Program
(a) Establishment, purpose and definition
(1) In general
(2) Purpose
(3) Definitions
In this section:
(A) Health Extension Agent
(B) Primary care provider
(b) Grants to establish State Hubs and local Primary Care Extension Agencies
(1) Grants
(2) Composition of Hubs
A Hub established by a State pursuant to paragraph (1)—
(A) shall consist of, at a minimum, the State health department, the entity responsible for administering the State Medicaid program (if other than the State health department), the State-level entity administering the Medicare program, and the departments that train providers in primary care in 1 or more health professions schools in the State; and
(B) may include entities such as hospital associations, primary care practice-based research networks, health professional societies, State primary care associations, State licensing boards, organizations with a contract with the Secretary under section 1320c–2 of this title, consumer groups, and other appropriate entities.
(c) State and local activities
(1) Hub activities
Hubs established under a grant under subsection (b) shall—
(A) submit to the Secretary a plan to coordinate functions with quality improvement organizations and area health education centers if such entities are members of the Hub not described in subsection (b)(2)(A);
(B) contract with a county- or local-level entity that shall serve as the Primary Care Extension Agency to administer the services described in paragraph (2);
(C) organize and administer grant funds to county- or local-level Primary Care Extension Agencies that serve a catchment area, as determined by the State; and
(D) organize State-wide or multistate networks of local-level Primary Care Extension Agencies to share and disseminate information and practices.
(2) Local Primary Care Extension Agency activities
(A) Required activities
Primary Care Extension Agencies established by a Hub under paragraph (1) shall—
(i) assist primary care providers to implement a patient-centered medical home to improve the accessibility, quality, and efficiency of primary care services, including health homes;
(ii) develop and support primary care learning communities to enhance the dissemination of research findings for evidence-based practice, assess implementation of practice improvement, share best practices, and involve community clinicians in the generation of new knowledge and identification of important questions for research;
(iii) participate in a national network of Primary Care Extension Hubs and propose how the Primary Care Extension Agency will share and disseminate lessons learned and best practices; and
(iv) develop a plan for financial sustainability involving State, local, and private contributions, to provide for the reduction in Federal funds that is expected after an initial 6-year period of program establishment, infrastructure development, and planning.
(B) Discretionary activities
Primary Care Extension Agencies established by a Hub under paragraph (1) may—
(i) provide technical assistance, training, and organizational support for community health teams established under section 256a–1 1
1 See References in Text note below.
of this title;(ii) collect data and provision of primary care provider feedback from standardized measurements of processes and outcomes to aid in continuous performance improvement;
(iii) collaborate with local health departments, community health centers, tribes and tribal entities, and other community agencies to identify community health priorities and local health workforce needs, and participate in community-based efforts to address the social and primary determinants of health, strengthen the local primary care workforce, and eliminate health disparities;
(iv) develop measures to monitor the impact of the proposed program on the health of practice enrollees and of the wider community served; and
(v) participate in other activities, as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(d) Federal program administration
(1) Grants; types
Grants awarded under subsection (b) shall be—
(A) program grants, that are awarded to State or multistate entities that submit fully-developed plans for the implementation of a Hub, for a period of 6 years; or
(B) planning grants, that are awarded to State or multistate entities with the goal of developing a plan for a Hub, for a period of 2 years.
(2) Applications
(3) Evaluation
(4) Continuing support
(5) Limitation
(e) Requirements on the Secretary
(f) Authorization of appropriations
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 399V–1, formerly § 399W, as added, amended, and renumbered § 399V–1, Pub. L. 111–148, title V, § 5405, title X, § 10501(f)(1), (2), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 649, 996.)